Shaaz Jung is a wildlife videographer and photographer. He grew up awestruck by the great forest and has been intrigued with black panthers from the first time he saw one.
This enthusiasm had turned into an obsession for Jung, and shedding more light on these lords of darkness had become his ultimate objective.
Jung spent the last several years following his goal, exploring the Kabini Forest in Karnataka, India. Finally, he returned with some of the most magnificent images of the most majestic animal we’ve ever seen.
Image courtesy : shaazjung
“I spent two and a half years in the Kabini Forest on a filming permit between December 2017 and January 2020,” Jung told Bored Panda. “With this filming permission, [my crew and I] were able to create a documentary about the black panther for National Geographic.”
He was the Director of Photography, and he described each day as a trip into the unknown. One of the most difficult undertakings Jung has ever worked on was unraveling the secrets of the mysterious black panther.
“This black panther is a leopard with a lot of melanin. There is just one black panther in the Kabini Forest, unlike the other cats,” Jung stated.
“Of course, this makes photographing him much more difficult. Since 2015, however, photographers have had the opportunity to observe him and shoot him. However, we are the first to produce a film on him.”
Everyone who worked on this difficult project learned the value of patience. Jung remarked, “It’s been a wonderful trip.”
“I’d want to express my gratitude to the Karnataka Forest Department for preserving these woods. We are able to get glimpses of these magnificent animals that thrive in our Indian woods because of their hard work.”
It’s almost as if Jung’s entire life had been leading up to this moment.
He grew up in South India, awestruck by the enormous forest, and was lucky enough to live near some of the country’s greatest national parks. “The jungle is a labyrinth full of mysteries waiting to be discovered. Every day in the forest was like putting together a jigsaw. I had to fit the pieces together to properly unveil its secrets.”
Jung was given some of the most stunning moments he could record with a camera when he did so.
“The camera allowed me to capture these moments in photos, immortalizing them, savoring life, and inspiring the world,” he added. “Wildlife is unpredictably unpredictable, and I like the challenge of locating a subject before photographing it. It seems a lot more satisfying.”
Jung’s dedication to capturing wildlife has paid off handsomely. He not only saw some of the most beautiful areas on Earth and met amazing animals, but he also became a Nikon India and Samsung ambassador. Jung also operates Safari Lodges in South India and East Africa, where he leads private safaris for wildlife aficionados in his leisure time.
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